I gafiated (drifted away) from sf fandom in the early 1990s, and even when that was my primary social community I don’t think I ever voted for the Hugos associated with the handful of Worldcons I attended. But from that perspective, here’s as much about this year’s “Puppygate” as anyone not part of that fandom probably cares to know. Amy Wallace, for Wired:
… Though voted upon by fans, this yearâs Hugo Awards were no mere popularity contest. After the Puppies released their slates in February, recommending finalists in 15 of the Hugosâ 16 categories (plus the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer), the balloting had become a referendum on the future of the genre. Would sci-fi focus, as it has for much of its history, largely on brave white male engineers with ray guns fighting either a) hideous aliens or b) hideous governments who donât want them to mine asteroids in space? Or would it continue its embrace of a broader sci-fi: stories about non-traditionally gendered explorers and post-singularity, post-ethnic characters who are sometimes not men and often even have feelings?
With so much at stake, more people than ever forked over membership dues (at least $40) in time to be allowed to vote for the 2015 Hugos. Before voting closed on June 31, 5,950 people cast ballots (a whopping 65 percent more than had ever voted before).
But were the new voters Puppies? Or were they, in the words of George RR Martinâthe author of the bestselling epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted into Game of Thronesââgathering to defend the integrity of the Hugosâ? On his blog, Martin predicted: âThis will be the most dramatic Hugo night in Worldcon history.â He wasnât wrong.
Long Read: “Who Won Science Fictionâs Hugo Awards, and Why It Matters”Post + Comments (203)